San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was missing his favorite target, Michael Crabtree, the last time the Niners played the Carolina Panthers. Crabtree's return added another element to Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game as the 49ers defeated the Panthers 23-10.

First quarter

— We're barely into this game and already two players have gotten banged up—Panthers' defensive lineman Charles Johnson and 49ers' receiver Michael Crabtree. Johnson shook it off on the sideline and is back on the field. Crabtree is back, as well.

— The 49ers' drive is stalled when Luke Kuechly lays the wood on Kaepernick for a sack. Phil Dawson's 49-yard field goal gets San Fran off to a strong start, though, capping a 13-play drive that took 5 minutes, 48 seconds off the clock. One big Panthers takeaway: avoid dumb penalties. Mike Mitchell was flagged for unnecessary roughness, keeping a Niners' drive alive after an incomplete pass. 49ers 3, Panthers 0 at the 9:12 mark.

— Newton will want that one back. His pass may have been intended for tight end Greg Olsen or Brandon LeFell. Wtih so much traffic in the area, it's hard to tell. It never made it to either one of them, though. Patrick Willis steps in front and grabs his first interception of the season.

— Remember what we said about foolish penalties. We now have a headbutt call on Captain Munnerlyn and a holding call on Star Lotulelei. It's beyond physical play. If you didn't know better, you'd think this was a Panthers-Falcons division game. At any rate, the Panthers have practically given the Niners another score, a 33-yard field goal from Dawson. 49ers 6, Panthers 0 with 4:33 left.

— The Panthers' seven-play drive has gotten them to the 1-yard line. Two run attempts on second and third downs came up empty. At the end of the first quarter, we're preparing to see if Riverboat Ron will roll the dice or play it safe here with a field goal.

Second quarter

— Carolina, coming into the game, had converted 10 of 13 fourth-down attempts. This time, it didn't work: Newton crashes into Ahmad Brooks and doesn't cross the plane. It's a huge stop for the 49ers. Carolina has to make sure this isn't deflating. Meanwwhile, the 49ers are juiced.

— Kaepernick , throwing from his own end zone, fires to Crabtree, but Quintin Mikell nearly comes away with a pick 6. It gives the Panthers a stop they needed, and Ted Ginn comes back with a huge 24-yard punt return. One play later, Newton goes straight to Steve Smith, who grabs it over Tarell Brown for a 31-yard TD. Panthers 7, 49ers 6.

— You can debate all day about who's the better runner between Kaepernick and Newton. It doesn't matter if they can't back it up with the pass, and Newton has proved he may be better at it. There's a reason he was the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. After eluding pressure and escaping for 11 yards, he fires to Olson for 35 yards and to Smith for 9 more. Newton tacks on a 6-yard run. But the drama came when Brooks, in anticipation of the snap count, dives early into the Panthers' backfield and Newton, untouched, completely flops. It gives Carolina another try, but they still couldn't capitalize with a touchdown. Graham Gano's 24-yard field goal is good. Panthers 10, 49ers 6 with 3:41 left in the half.

— Anquan Boldin got away with a headbutt on the back end of a 15-yard catch. The Niners just added it to their drive, getting to the 9 yard line. Kaep's attempt to Vernon Davis falls incomplete and Mikell is injured on a collision with Davis and limps off the field. On second and goal, Kuechly defends Kaepernick's pass to Boldin.

The third try is a pass interference on Drayton Florence, giving the Niners' a new set of downs. Kaepernick uses it to get a back boundary pass to Davis. The catch is ruled out of bounds, but is overturned for a touchdown with 14 seconds left. 49ers 13, Panthers 10.

HALFTIME

Third quarter

— The Panthers have lost cornerback Mikell and Boldin's chest is so puffed up right now, he could float out of Bank of America Stadium. Kaepernick is going to him often, but isn't abandoning Frank Gore and the running game. The balance will be tough for Carolina to handle, and on the last few drives, they really haven't. Kaepernick goes 45 yards to Boldin over Munnerlyn to the goal line.

After a fumble recovery from Gore, Kaepernick runs to the left for a 4-yard TD. Insult to injury: Kaepernick does Newton's trademark ripping of the T-shirt move before kissing his biceps, which is all his own. Ouch. Everything about that drive hurts, especially on top of the way the first half ended. 49ers 20, Panther 10 with 8:53 left in the third.

— Newton is sacked for a loss of 8 yards and then goes down on third down for another sack. After 7:27, the Panthers come away with absolutely nothing. It's a demoralizing turn of events—the 49ers score two touchdowns and the Panthers can't respond.

Fourth quarter

— On third-and-1, Frank Gore gains 39 yards. That's the way the second half has been for the Carolina defense. Between Boldin and Gore, the 49ers are pulling away and gaining momentum with every snap. Kaepernick keeps it for another third down conversion, before the Panthers finally got a stop when they had to have it. Dawson's 34-yard field goal counts, extending the lead with only 7:41 remaining. 49ers 23, Panthers 10.

— Instead of a sack, the Niners' are called for an illegal hit to the head when Newton spins right into Dan Skuta. It kept the drive alive—long enough for Newton to make a big mistake. His pass to Olsen was intercepted by Donte Whitner with 4:22 left.